The San Antonio Spurs entered the 2026-27 campaign with sky-high expectations after a stellar run to the NBA Finals. Fresh off reshaping their roster around generational superstar Victor Wembanyama—including securing a lucrative three-year extension for Julian Champagnie, drafting top-tier prospects Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., and landing veteran forward Tobias Harris—the front office clearly positioned the franchise for another deep postseason push.
However, not all of the team’s offseason headlines centered on basketball strategy. Amid a flurry of roster adjustments and an unusually chaotic summer behind the scenes, reserve wing Lindy Waters III has officially opted to leave the NBA altogether, signing a high-profile deal with the Beijing Shougang Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
A Crowded Roster and Limited Opportunities
Waters’ departure marks a quiet end to a brief stint in San Antonio. Having previously made stops with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Detroit Pistons, the 28-year-old guard struggled to carve out consistent minutes under head coach Gregg Popovich.
During the regular season, Waters appeared in 40 games, posting modest averages of 2.4 points and 0.7 rebounds in just 7.1 minutes per contest while shooting 34.2% from beyond the arc. Though he made nine appearances during the Spurs’ gritty run to the Finals, his opportunities dwindled significantly as the front office flooded the roster with fresh talent. With the additions of first-round picks Quaintance and Reed, the veteran presence of Tobias Harris, and two-way contributors like David Jones Garcia and Ja’Kobi Gillespie, the backcourt became too crowded for Waters to secure a long-term future. Furthermore, because Waters was ineligible for a two-way contract, his path toward retaining an NBA roster spot became increasingly narrow.
Off-Court Headlines Overshadow the Summer
While basketball operations naturally dictated much of the offseason, Waters’ name also found itself unexpectedly dragged into a viral social media storm that captivated sports media in July.
A messy series of Instagram Stories—reportedly posted by the partner of Spurs play-by-play broadcaster Jacob Tobey after she accessed his account—exposed explosive allegations regarding his personal life. The posts accused Tobey of infidelity with Loren Waters, the sister of Lindy Waters III. Although the posts were swiftly scrubbed within minutes, screenshots circulated rapidly across digital platforms, placing intense scrutiny on the organization’s broadcasting booth.
Tobey subsequently stepped away from his role to address the personal fallout. Ahead of the new season, however, the organization confirmed that Tobey would return to his play-by-play duties, with the broadcaster releasing a statement acknowledging the need to regain the trust of the franchise and the local community.
While Lindy Waters himself was never accused of any wrongdoing, the bizarre off-court distraction added an awkward layer to a tumultuous summer for the player. Unable to secure a guaranteed standard contract in an increasingly competitive NBA landscape, Waters chose to turn the page entirely.
Now, the former Spur is packing his bags for Beijing, looking to revitalize his professional career overseas in a league famously dominated by historical powerhouse clubs like the Ducks. As San Antonio turns its full attention toward capturing an elusive championship ring this season, the strange saga of the summer of 2026 will undoubtedly go down as one of the most unusual chapters in recent franchise history.
